The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commenced mobilisation across the country ahead of a possible declaration of a nationwide strike.
State chapters of the union took the decision following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to provide palliatives to cushion the effect of the recent fuel subsidy removal.
OsunDailyNG recalls that organised labour had earlier embarked on a two-day warning strike to press home its demands.
NLC after the warning strike gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to meet its demands.
Following the expiration of the ultimatum on Friday, the National Executive Council of the union is expected to meet on Tuesday.
The General Secretary of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja in a notice of the meeting dated September 22, 2023, told the Presidents, General Secretaries and Treasurers of its affiliates that “Your attendance (at the meeting) will be of utmost importance.”
State chapters of the NLC ahead of the meeting, however, told Punch that they are ready to mobilise full participation if the NEC declared a strike on Tuesday.
Punch also gathered that the Federal Government in its move to halt the strike is expected to meet with leaders of the union on Monday.
A government source said, “Yes, the government delegation will meet with them maybe on Monday. The idea is to ensure that we prevent the strike. The nation cannot afford a shutdown of its economy at this time.”
Another government source revealed that the FG will continue to appeal for understanding from the labour leaders.
The source said, “The government has just increased the salaries of junior lecturers by 23.5 per cent. There is the need for an understanding.”
The Chairman of NLC in Ekiti State, Kolapo Olatunde in a chat with Punch revealed that workers in the state would participate fully if the NEC resolved to declare a strike.
Olatunde said “NLC NEC’s decision supersedes any other decision. If the decision up there in NEC is that we should go on strike, we have no option.
“We will also come down and decide the State Executive Council level, but the decision of the NEC supersedes any other decision.
“If the NEC says we are going on strike, everybody will go on strike, that is the implication.”
Other states like, Gombe, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Kano, Niger, Zamfara, Yobe, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Kaduna, Abia, Kebbi, Taraba, Oyo, Katsina, Lagos, Edo, Delta have commenced mobilisation for the strike.
